St Eunan's get it easy in Senior Hurling League opener away to Aodh Ruadh

It was all too easy for reigning League champions St Eunan’s as they overwhelmed a game but outplayed Aodh Ruadh in Ballyshannon.

It took just under three minutes for St Eunan’s Colm McAnespie to hit the back of the net, putting the Cathedral Town men a goal in front with the first score of the game.

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Matt Ahern quickly followed with a goal shortly after, giving the Letterkenny men a 2-0 to 0-0 lead after just three and a half minutes.

Cian Randles added a well-taken point from the 45-metre area to make it 2-1 to 0-0 for St Eunan’s. Pierce Glynn hit a fine point on the run, and Matt Ahern added another point to his tally in the 10th minute, shortly following up by rattling the crossbar from close range.

After thirteen minutes, Ballyshannon got their first score of the game with a goal through Johnny Lin from a ruck in St Eunan’s goalmouth. Aodh Ruadh followed this with another goal from close range just two minutes later.

But St Eunan’s responded well with a well-taken goal from Fergal Delaney. Matthew Ahern then netted his second goal of the game, following in a dropped ball and steering it past Aodh Ruadh keeper Kenzie Lee Ayres. Ahern added his second point shortly after, which Ballyshannon replied to with a point.

Fergal Delaney added a second goal from a turnover by Matthew Ahern close to goal. Then Cian Randles hit an impressive point from the halfway line to give the Cathedral men a bit of added comfort before half-time.

Ahern was replaced by Cormac Finn after 23 minutes following an injury after hitting the wall behind the Aodh Ruadh goal. Colm McAnespie laid off the ball to Delaney to give him his third goal of the evening, and St Eunan’s led comfortably at the break on a score of 6-5 to 2-1.

Aaron Cullen got Aodh Ruadh's second half off to a good start with a point from the get-go. Fergal Delaney notched another goal four minutes into the second half. Conor Neely added another point for the black-and-amber men following a great run from the half-back line.

Senan Rooney replied with a point for Ballyshannon from a free from the 65. Jordan Barr then tagged on a point, while Delaney added another point 15 minutes into the second half to increase St Eunan’s lead. Barr got his second point of the game in the following play, which was then met with a Ballyshannon free that resulted in a wide.

Conor Neely added his second point of the game, giving St Eunan’s a comfortable lead. Ballyshannon responded with a point, showing great determination to chase the game. But it was all Eunan’s from there, as Gavin Forde added a well-taken point after coming off the bench, to which Ballyshannon’s Johnny Lin replied with his second goal of the evening.

Cian Randles added a goal for the black-and-amber men in the dying minutes.

St Eunan’s scorers: Fergal Delaney 4-2; Matthew Ahern 2-2; Cian Randles 1-1; Jordan Barr 0-4; Colm McAnespie 1-1; Conor Neely 0-3; Gavin Forde and Pierce Glynn 0-2 each.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Johnny Lin 2-2; Aaron Cullen 0-3 and Senan Rooney 0-2. . 

Aodh Ruadh: Kenzie Lee Ayres; Aaron Peach, Kyle McCaffrey, Rory Cullen; Joe Gibbons, Cian McDonald, Daire McDevitt; Ryan Ayres, Senan Rooney; Martin Larkin, Aaron Cullen, Tommy Clyne; Jake Foley, Callum Ayres, Johnny Lin.

St Eunan’s: Cian Hennessy; Lorcan Heavey, Oisin Randles, Mark Mulholland; Sean McVeigh, Steven Doherty, Conor Neely; Sean Halvey, David Horgan; Jordan Barr, Cian Randles, Pierce Glynn; Fergal Delaney, Matthew Ahern, Colm McAnespie.

Subs used: Cormac Finn, Cathal O’Brien, Gavin Forde, John MacIntyre, Jonny Lambe, Killian Barr.

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters)